Catch is a game-changer

By
JONATHAN MALLINSON

A BURNIE man has set the Australian game fishing scene alight after landing one of the biggest swordfish ever on rod and line at the weekend.

A BURNIE man has set the Australian game fishing scene alight after landing one of the biggest swordfish ever on rod and line at the weekend.

WHAT A WHOPPER: Jamie Harris with his massive swordfish. The 238 kilogram fish took the Burnie man seven hours to land off St Helens on Saturday.

Jamie Harris took more than seven hours to land the 238.4-kilogram swordfish just off St Helens on Saturday.

The catch will cause a frenzy for recreational fishermen, who will travel from all parts to fish for swordfish, as it can be done all year round.

A number of big-game anglers have been targeting this elusive species by dropping baits more than 500 metres to the ocean floor.

An increasing number of swordfish have been tagged and released in Tasmania over the past few years, which has prompted a marine scientist to start a program of placing GPS tags on them.

Mr Harris said he was still on a high after catching the monster swordfish.

``It is something you dream of catching when you are young, and actually to do it is something incredible,'' he said yesterday.

``I am extremely sore after fishing it and have been left with full-body cramp.''

The fish easily beats the Australian all-tackle record of 175kg, but it won't count due Mr Harris's leader being too long.

``I knew my leader was too long when I went out there; we weren't going after any records anyway,'' he said.

``I have been targeting these for a little while and lost a big fish two days ago.

``This is my first swordfish, so I really just wanted to catch one but didn't think I'd ever land or see one this size.''

Mr Harris was fishing with good friend Ashley Hallam when they hooked the swordfish at 11am on Saturday.

The pair were then helped by fellow fisherman Jason McGiveron, who said he would swim to their boat to help out if they needed it. ``It's people like Jason that we can't thank enough - he was a legend,'' Mr Harris said.

Swordfish is extremely good eating and Mr Harris said his extended family would certainly enjoy it.